Photograph holder



"Oct. 20, 1931. w. L. DANIEL 1,828,558

PHOTOGRAPH HOLDER Filed Sept. 19, 1,929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 an M 01 a.

Oct. 1931. V w, DANlEL 1,828,558

PHOTOGRAPH HOLDER Filed Sept. 19, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 20, 1931 WALTER L. DANIEL, 015 LUBBOGK, TEXAS memes noLnnr.

' Application filed September 19, 1929." Serial 1101 393370.

' This inveiitionrelates to a photograph holder, one of the objects being to provide a device that can be used as a paperweight, I table ornament or the likeandalso serve as a container for a'strip of photographs having means fo'rhol'ding the strip normally retracted and rolled.- V Another object is to provide a device of this character the external appearanceof which corresponds with the objector object's portrayedon one of the photographs contained in the housing whereby the external appearance of the housing will promptly identify-the particular structure illustrated by the pictures contained therein, v

' 'With the foregoing"and otherfobjectsin I view which Willappear as the description proceeds,the invention resides in the combi nation and arrangement of parts and inthe details "of constructionhereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in theprecise embodiment ofthe invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of What is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the device;

Figure 2 is a plan View thereof.

Figure 3 is a central vertical section.

Figure 1 is a bottom plan View, the bottom or cover strip being removed.

Figure 5 is an enlarged section on line 5-5, Figure 4:.

Figure 6 is a section 011 line 66, Figure 3, showlng the picture strip partly withdrawn to expose an illustration corresponding with the external appearance of the housing.

Figure 7 is a section 011 line 7(', Figure 3.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, 1 designates a housing formed of papier-mach, plaster of Paris, or any other suitable plastic material molded, cast, pressed interest to the user. In the present instance the housing 1 has been shaped to portray the approach or entrance portion of'a cave. It is to be understood, however, that the body portion can be molded to represent a building or otherwise formed to portray a structure of or other structure having numerouspoiiits of interest therein. 1

In the back portion of the bottom of the body 1 is formed a relatively deep rectangular recess 2 from which extends a guide channel 3 havinq parallel sides and opening through the bottom of the frontportion of the body 1. The top of the recess 2 merges along curved lines into the top of the channel 3 and the top faces of the recess and channel 69 can be reinforced by a wear strip 4 of tough" paper or other suitable material glued or otherwise connected to the adjacent surfaces of the body. This wear strip is not necessary 3 if metal or other wear resisting "material be used for the bodyf The recess 2- isformed with shallow extensions 5 at the ends thereofadap'ted to receive the end portions of a plate 6 which 'ex- 1 tends throughout the length'of recess 2 and has its bottomsurface flush with thebottoni surface of the body '1. This plate is formed with upstandingears 7 and seated in these ears are the trunnions f aj'spring-actuated roller 9 of the type used with'window shades although much smaller. One of the trim nions 8 is square'orrectangularin form to prevent rotation of the shaft upon which the roller turns, asis customary in devices of this'character. This roller has a stripflo 80 fastened at one end thereto and normally Wound thereonand the free end of strip 10 has a reinforcing cross-strip '11 fastened thereto and adaptednormally to fit snugly in the outer end portion of the channel 3. This strip'll is held against movement back into the channel 3 by the end of the wear stript as shown particularly in Figure 3. Asmall tab 12 is attached to the reinforcing strip 11 and constantly projects forwardly from the bottom portion of the body 1 where it can be easily grasped.

The spring in the roller 9-serves to hold the strip 11 pressed against theleii'd' of the wear strip 4 with the strip 10 normally wound about the roller in the illustrated form of the invention. The reinforcing strip 11 is shaped upon its: outeredge' to conform to'the shape of the'exterior of the body, where the channel or slot opens through, it, whereby it constitutes a closure for the open end of the channel or slot in its normal retracted position. If no wear strip is provided the channel may be so shaped as to provide an abutment or abutments for the reinforcing strip to seat against to position itin proper relation to the open end of the slot to completely close the same when in its normal retracted position.

For the purpose of retaining the plate 6 in the body and holding the strip 10 in its Chan-- Del 3, a cover strip 13 is attached to the bottom of the body 1 so as to provide a. finish therefor and also a smooth surface for. con-.

tact with the structure on which the device is supported. i 1 b As before explained, the body l is adapted to be shaped to represent some object of interest. If, as shown inthe drawings, it is shaped to representaca-ve', the strip 1.0 can be provided with a series of pictures, indicated at 14,-illustrating not onlythe entrancevto the cave as portrayed by the body but also points of interest inside of the cave or adjacent thereto. The prospective customer .Will be attracted by the external appearance of the structure which represents the object of interest and bypulling on the ,tab 12 the strip 10- can be unwound from the roller 9 so that the pictures relating to the structure illustrated or portrayed by the bodyv will be successively broughtto View. After all of these pictures have been examined the strip 10 can be releasedso that the springi-in the roller 9 will return the strip to its housed position as; illustrated in Figures 2and 3 \Vhile the body 1 portrays an object ofinterest and is used primarily for housing a strip of pictures, the recess 15 enables it to be used asan ash-tray. or the like. Furthermore a pairof the articles can be used asbook ends. If desired, the. recess. in the body canbe so formed as to hold ink. .With certain modification, the body might be used for purposes other than those-mentioned.

\Vhat is claimed is: 1. An article of manufacture comprising abase and a representation of an object of interest carried thereby, a recess in said base shaped to receive a roller and having a narrow slotextending to the exterior, a spring roller mounted in said recess, a flexible strip wound on said roller having one end secured thereto and its free end extending through said slot,'and a stiffening element on said free end normally housed in said slot to close its open end.

2. The combination with a structure havroller and guided in the channel, a reinforcing. str p at h f e nd: yse e e tr p pr -i mally housed in the outer end portion of the channel and limited in its movement in one direction thereby, and a cover strip secured to the bottom of said structure and extending across the recess and channel to conceal the same and provide a bottom finish for the structure. A

3, The combination with a structure having a recess in the bottom thereof and a shallow channel leading from said recess to the front of the bottom portion of said structure, of a wear strip mounted on the top Walls of the recess and channel and terminating inwardly from the outer, end of the channel, a spring roller mounted for rotation in the recess, a flexible strip normally Wound on the roller'and gu-idedinthe channel, a reinforc: ing strip at the free end of said flexible strip normally housedin the outer end portion of the channel and limited in its movementin one direction by the end of the wear strip, and a cover strip secured to. the bottom ofsaid structure and extending across the-recess and channel to conceal the same and provide a bottom finish for the structure.

4. An article of manufacture comprising a base and a representationof an object of interest carried thereby, a recess in said base shapedto receive a picture strip coil and having a narrow slot extending to the exterior, a coiling means mounted in said recess, .a flexible strip carried by said coiling means having one end secured thereto and its freeend extending through said slot, and a stiffening element on said free end normally housed in said slot to close its open end.

i In testimony that I claim the foregoing as myown, I have hereto afiixed; my signature.

WVALTER L. DANIEL. 

